Exploring the Relationship between Built Environment and Commuting Mode Choice: Longitudinal Evidence from China

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning
• Transportation Science
• Environmental Psychology

Background:

• Extensive research links the built environment (BE) to commuting behavior.
• Most studies use cross-sectional data from developed nations, limiting understanding of longitudinal BE-commuting links.
• Longitudinal data from China is used to explore these relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the relationship between the built environment and commuting mode choice.
• To investigate these links from both cross-sectional and longitudinal perspectives.
• To incorporate the influence of life-cycle events within a unified framework.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two rounds of survey data from China.
• Employed cross-sectional and longitudinal analytical approaches.
• Integrated life-cycle event analysis into the study framework.

Main Results:

• Longitudinal findings largely support cross-sectional analyses of BE and commuting.
• More balanced land use and improved residential density are linked to reduced car use and increased active travel.
• Balanced land use also increases motorcycle/electric bike use but decreases public transit use.

Conclusions:

• Built environment factors like land use balance and residential density are key to influencing commuting behavior.
• Life-cycle events play a significant role in commuting mode shifts.
• Findings support targeted urban planning interventions for sustainable transportation.